oblige

UK: /əˈblaɪdʒ/ US: /əˈblaɪdʒ/ ,(ə blīj′)

Inflections of 'oblige' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

obliges

v 3rd person singular

obliging

v pres p

obliged

v past

obliged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

o•blige /əˈblaɪdʒ/   v., o•bliged, o•blig•ing. 

1. to require, as by law, contrast, conscience, or force;
   bind: [be + ~-ed + to + verb]
   After having been invited to their party, we were obliged to invite them to ours.
   [~ + object + to + verb]
   The will obliges the heirs to live in the family mansion.
2. to place under a debt of gratitude for a favor or service:
   [~ + object* usually: be + ~-ed] We are much obliged for the ride.
3. to do a favor or perform some service for (another): [~ + object]
   The singer obliged us with a song.
   [no object]
   He would be happy to oblige.

ob•lig•ing, adj. 

: He's very obliging and will certainly help you.

See -lig-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

o•blige  (ə blīj′), v., o•bliged, o•blig•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity.
2. to bind morally or legally, as by a promise or contract.
3. to place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor, or service:
   I'm much obliged for the ride.
4. to put (one) in a debt of gratitude, as by a favor or accommodation:
   Mr. Weems will oblige us with a song.
5. to make (an action, policy, etc.) necessary or obligatory:
   Your carelessness obliges firmness on my part.

v.i. 

6. to be kindly accommodating:
   I'll do anything within reason to oblige.

• Latin obligāre to bind. See obligate
• Old French obligier
• 1250–1300; Middle English obligen

o•blig•ed•ly  (ə blī′jid lē), adv.  o•blig′ed•ness, n. 
o•blig′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. compel, force.
• 2. obligate.
• 4. Oblige, accommodate imply making a gracious and welcome gesture of some kind.
  Oblige emphasizes the idea of conferring a favor or benefit (and often of taking some trouble to do it):
  to oblige someone with a loan.
  Accommodate emphasizes doing a service or furnishing a convenience:
  to accommodate someone with lodgings and meals.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

oblige / əˈblaɪdʒ/ verb

1. (tr; often passive) to bind or constrain (someone to do something) by legal, moral, or physical means
2. (tr; usually passive) to make indebted or grateful (to someone) by doing a favour or service
3. to do a service or favour to (someone): she obliged the guest with a song

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French obliger, from Latin obligāre, from ob- to, towards + ligāre to bind

oˈbliger noun